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Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning

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  1. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Beginning (Parts, Tools and Laptop): crwdns2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Welcome to the Alienware M11xR3 disassembly. Below, I will describe the necessary tools and steps to disassemble the Alienware M11xR3. This disassembly applies to all M11x, including the R1, R2, and R3.

    • Required tools:

    • 1x Phillips #1 and #00 Screwdriver

    • 1x Flathead Screwdriver

    • 1x Small Needle Nose Pliers or Tweezers

    • 1x Thermal Paste and Finger Stalls Optional: Small water balloons (to spread thermal paste without getting dirty)

    • 1x Anti-Static Mat

    • I highly recommended reading about static electricity and how it can damage electronic components.

  2. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove back plate screws.: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove back plate screws.: crwdns2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Gently flip over the laptop so that the bottom side is facing up.

    • Use a Phillips #1 screwdriver to remove the 8 screws securing the base-plate.

  3. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove back plate.: crwdns2935265:03crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the bottom cover and remove it.

  4. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Unscrew and unplug battery.: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Unscrew and unplug battery.: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Unscrew and unplug battery.: crwdns2935265:04crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the battery cable on the plate by pulling vertically.

    • Unscrew and remove the screws retaining the battery.

  5. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove Battery.: crwdns2935265:05crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the battery.

  6. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the HDD: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the HDD: crwdns2935265:06crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the hard drive mounting bracket by removing the three screws with the Phillips #1 screwdriver.

    • Pull out the hard drive by lifting up on the black tab.

  7. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, (Optional) Replace HDD: crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, (Optional) Replace HDD: crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, (Optional) Replace HDD: crwdns2935265:07crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • In order to remove the hard drive from the mounting bracket, remove the four screws at each corner with the Phillips #1 screwdriver.

    • When installing a new hard drive, never forget to remove the SATA adapter before installation.

  8. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove RAM: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove RAM: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove RAM: crwdns2935265:08crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Pull the tabs away from RAM.

    • Carefully pull the RAM module to remove.

    • Depending on the configuration that you have on your Alienware, there may be another RAM module.

    • If you want to upgrade your RAM please read the manual about which modules are compatible. Here are the RAM specs:

    • Number of Sockets: 2

    • Max memory: 16384 MB (16GB)

    • Memory Comments: PC3-10600 1333Mhz DDR3 SDRAM SO-DIMM 204-pin

  9. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove WLAN module: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove WLAN module: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove WLAN module: crwdns2935265:09crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Depending on your Alienware configuration, it can have up to 3 aerial cables.

    • Remove the aerial cables vertically with Tweezers or Small Needle Nose Pliers.

    • Once the aerial cables are removed, extract the screws.

    • Remove the WLAN card.

    • On USA models, a WWAN card may be located near the WLAN card. Use the same process to remove it.

  10. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove chassis and keyboard screws: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove chassis and keyboard screws: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove chassis and keyboard screws: crwdns2935265:010crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the chassis screws using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

    • Remove the keyboard screws using a Phillips #1 screwdriver.

  11. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the chassis screws: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the chassis screws: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the chassis screws: crwdns2935265:011crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the chassis screws.

  12. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the bottom chassis screws: crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the bottom chassis screws: crwdns2935265:012crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the bottom chassis screws.

  13. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:013crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • The screw marked with a yellow circle is near the hard drive bay.

  14. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the screws from the keyboard: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the screws from the keyboard: crwdns2935265:014crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the screws from the keyboard.

  15. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the cover: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the cover: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove the cover: crwdns2935265:015crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Use a small flat screwdriver to carefully pry the cover from the chassis.

    • Next, use your finger as a lever to extract the cover. The cover has tabs that attach it to the chassis.

    • In the next step, I'll show you tab locations.

  16. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Tab locations: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Tab locations: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Tab locations: crwdns2935265:016crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Clamping tabs

  17. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:017crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the two screws to release the keyboard.

    • Wait for the next step to remove the keyboard; there are bus data cables underneath the keyboard that must be removed first.

  18. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus data cables (part 1): crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus data cables (part 1): crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus data cables (part 1): crwdns2935265:018crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • There are 2 bus data cables.

    • The thin orange cable is the RGB led keyboard retro illumination.

    • Lift the tab to a vertical position to free the bus cable as shown.

  19. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus data cables (part 2): crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus data cables (part 2): crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus data cables (part 2): crwdns2935265:019crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Free the keyboard bus data cable as you did for the RGB bus data cable.

    • Remove the keyboard to replace it; it has pressure points like the previous cover.

    • If the keyboard fails, the best option is to replace it for a new one.

  20. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove more chassis screws: crwdns2935265:020crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove more chassis screws: crwdns2935265:020crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove more chassis screws: crwdns2935265:020crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Continue taking out the chassis by unscrewing the 3 shown screws.

    • First one to the left of the RGB bus data cable.

    • Second one at bottom near the touchpad.

    • Third one on the right edge of the laptop.

  21. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove touchpad data bus cable: crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove touchpad data bus cable: crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove touchpad data bus cable: crwdns2935265:021crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the tab to disconnect the touchpad data bus cable.

  22. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus cable to Motherboard.: crwdns2935265:022crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus cable to Motherboard.: crwdns2935265:022crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove bus cable to Motherboard.: crwdns2935265:022crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Extract the bus cable with needle nose pliers by lifting the tab and pulling it away.

    • If your computer doesn't power on, then check to make sure this cable is plugged in.

    • Always lift tabs vertically to free cables.

  23. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:023crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Lift the case with your fingers, as shown in the pictures.

    • Don't remove the case yet. There is another cable on the upper left corner that must be removed to fully remove the case.

  24. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:024crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:024crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • This is the cable that I mentioned in the previous step.

    • Pull the cable out to the right to remove it.

  25. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:025crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:025crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Here's a top and bottom view of the board with the power on switch and LED status.

  26. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:026crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • And here's a bottom view of the touchpad.

  27. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the bluetooth card.: crwdns2935265:027crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the bluetooth card.: crwdns2935265:027crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the shown screw.

    • Pull the cable off.

  28. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, (Optional)  Remove the BIOS battery: crwdns2935265:028crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:01crwdne2935265:0
    • This is the BIOS battery for internal configuration and clock. If you have problems with it, remove it by disconnecting it from the motherboard.

  29. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:029crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:029crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:029crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Pull the speakers connector towards you and away from the I/O board, marked by a yellow square.

    • Remove the 3 screws and lift as you see in the picture

    • Move the board a little to the left while lifting to prevent damaging the two attached USB 3.0 ports.

  30. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the display connector.: crwdns2935265:030crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the display connector.: crwdns2935265:030crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the display connector.: crwdns2935265:030crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the display connector by pulling vertically.

    • Lift using the plastic tab. See the image provided in this step.

  31. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the monitor mount: crwdns2935265:031crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the monitor mount: crwdns2935265:031crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the monitor mount: crwdns2935265:031crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Unscrew the screws in the correct order by using the numbers near the holes.

    • Make sure you are holding the monitor while unscrewing to prevent dropping and damaging the screen.

    • After that, you must see the next step to remove the WLAN aerials.

  32. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Pull WLAN cable away with monitor: crwdns2935265:032crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Pull WLAN cable away with monitor: crwdns2935265:032crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • The WLAN cable is the same as in step 9.

    • Pass the cable from the bottom of the laptop through the hole carefully.

    • Remember, depending on your Alienware configuration you may have 2 or 3 aerials. USA customers may also have the WWAN aerials

  33. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the motherboard.: crwdns2935265:033crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the motherboard.: crwdns2935265:033crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Removing the motherboard.: crwdns2935265:033crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • Remove the four screws, marked by red circles, to remove the motherboard.

    • Now lift the motherboard slowly up while moving it to the right. Removing it this way prevents damage to your ports.

    • As you see in the picture, the I/O board and screen connector wasn't here. They must be disconnected before removing the motherboard, not like the bluetooth board or coin-cell battery.

  34. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:034crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning: crwdns2935265:034crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:02crwdne2935265:0
    • Disconnect the vent connector.

    • You must disconnect it to remove the heatsink.

    • To replace the vent, it is not necessary to remove the heatsink. You must do this step and in the next step I have marked in green the 3 screws that you need to remove.

    • To maintain good ventilation, clean the vent with compressed air.

  35. Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove heat sink and apply thermal paste: crwdns2935265:035crwdnd2935265:01crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove heat sink and apply thermal paste: crwdns2935265:035crwdnd2935265:02crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0 Alienware M11xR3 Disassembly and Cleaning, Remove heat sink and apply thermal paste: crwdns2935265:035crwdnd2935265:03crwdnd2935265:03crwdne2935265:0
    • If this is your first time applying thermal paste, I recommend using a quality thermal paste brand like Arctic Silver and reading a guide here on iFixit.

    • With the motherboard out, turn it upside down on a static free surface.

    • To remove the heatsink and replace thermal paste, remove the screws in the correct order (marked with a number on the heatsink).

    • Clean old thermal paste with isopropyl alcohol. Ensure that after applying thermal paste it doesn't leak onto the motherboard (if it's on the green square, it's fine).

    • When putting the heat sink back on, try to have the screw holes align on your first try. This is to maintain an even spread of the thermal paste.

    • Rescrew in the correct order (refer to the numbers on the heat sink).

    • Tighten each screw one at a time to end up with good heat dissipation.

    On the topic of thermal paste, just put a line from one end of the cpu to the other, and it will be good

    Robo and Rainbow - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

crwdns2935217:0crwdne2935217:0

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AdrianP

crwdns2935283:009/05/13crwdne2935283:0

442 crwdns2915208:0crwdne2915208:0

crwdns2935295:0crwdne2935295:0

crwdns2944067:02crwdne2944067:0

I needed to modify it so i t would work for my M11X R1

but after all, pretty goosd tutorial.

Szymon PlayZGameZ - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

Awesomely detailed, thank you :)

fraser - crwdns2934203:0crwdne2934203:0

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